'British Columbians are paying too much': B.C. attorney general freezes ICBC's rate application

Citing years of mismanagement, the B.C. government has put the brakes on the insurance rate application ICBC makes every year to the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC).

B.C. Attorney General David Ebyhas directed a delay tothe public auto insurer's applicationuntil February, in order to allow time fortwosets of planned reforms, according toa statement issued Thursday.

"We will not ask ICBC to put forward a 2020 rate application based on an incomplete financial picture," said Eby.

"Instead, we will wait until that work is complete to ensure any rate changes are based on the actual costs anticipated in the year ahead."

In February2018, the province triedto stem ICBC'sfinancial bleeding, in part, byintroducing caps on the number of expert witnessestestifying in injurylawsuits.

A recent courtdecisionstruck down the caps. But instead of appealing the decision, theB.C. government optedinstead to legislatethe changes.

Thosechanges made to B.C.'s Evidence Actlimitthe number of expert reportsbut also include a window of discretion that willallow judges to decidewhether additional experts are needed in some cases.

Eby said the province is alsoworking onreforms in the tort system that it believes will helpreduce costs and have a positive impact onrate changes.

"British Columbians are paying too much for car insurance, [and] ... we have much work ahead to get these costs down for families."